International Calls for Peace Met with Defiance in Sudan Amid Ongoing Civil War
The United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt have proposed a roadmap for peace in Sudan urging a permanent ceasefire and a transition to civilian-led governance. However, the Sudanese army, currently wielding power, has rejected the proposal, refusing to be excluded from the country's future political transition.
A Country in the Grips of Civil War
Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal civil war since April 2023, following tensions arising from the 2019 ousting of President Omar al-Bashir. The conflict, fought between the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese government's Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), has resulted in an estimated 150,000 deaths and has displaced between 13 and 15 million people, marking the world's largest displacement crisis.
Christians Under Siege
Sudan's two million Christians, who make up an estimated 4% of the country's population, have been particularly hard-hit by the war. Reports indicate that some are forced to eat animal feed and grass to survive due to chronic food shortages. Sudan ranks as the fifth-worst country in the world for Christian persecution, according to Open Doors’ World Watch List.
Humanitarian Crisis in El Fasher
The city of El Fasher in North Darfur has been under siege for 500 days, trapping at least 260,000 civilians who face the stark choice of risking starvation or bombardment if they stay, and potential rape or death if they flee. The Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Lab warned that civilians in El Fasher have no safety in staying and no possibility of escape,
after documenting mass bombardments, rising fatalities, and a near-total blockade of the city.
International Sanctions and Calls for Peace
Amid the ongoing crisis, the US has imposed new sanctions on Sudan's finance minister and a militia group over ties with Iran, accusing them of obstructing democratic transition and fueling violence. Despite these actions, the international proposal for a ceasefire has been rejected by the Sudanese army, leading to a hardened stance from the State Department on Sudan’s warring parties.
The Plight of Children and Hope Amid Despair
The protracted conflict has had a devastating impact on Sudan's children, with aid agencies warning of the harm faced by this vulnerable group the longer the conflict continues. Meanwhile, amid the despair, there are glimmers of hope, as seen in the story of Fatma Ali and her children, who were reunited with husband and father Shamoun Idris after an Al Jazeera news report.
Current Status
Sudan's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Mohy- Eddin Salim, recently received the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy to Sudan, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, signaling possible dialogue on the crisis. However, as the Sudanese army remains defiant against international calls for a ceasefire, the future remains uncertain for the besieged nation.